Submission Guidelines

Before submitting a pitch or article, please subscribe to our daily newsletter so you are up to date on Al-Monitor coverage of the region and have an understanding of Al-Monitor’s style. This will improve the chances that your pitch or article will be accepted.

PITCH GUIDELINES:

Before submitting an article, please send a pitch for your story.

Be specific and pitch the story, not the topic. For example, please do not send a pitch on a broad topic such as the Iranian nuclear program; you should narrow your focus to a specific aspect of the Iranian nuclear program and explain the angle you are pursuing – does the aspect you're focusing on make negotiations more or less likely to succeed, for example.

Your pitch should reference primary sources and analysis. Primary sources consist of original documents such as official records, interviews and speeches. Always provide links to those sources when possible.

It should not be based on secondary sources or what is already in the news, absent an original source or angle.

If your pitch is accepted, your article will be exclusive to Al-Monitor, meaning it cannot be published in full elsewhere. Please read our submission guidelines below for more information on what should be in your article.

To improve your article’s chances of being published, follow these submission rules.

Newsworthy: There must be a news hook to your article, and a clearly stated reason that your topic is likely to attract readers by an informed audience that follows the region.

Original work: The article must be original work and exclusive to Al-Monitor, and cannot be derived from previous articles or secondary news sources. Exclusive to Al-Monitor means your piece cannot be published on any other website, including personal blogs.

Length: Your article should be no more than 1,000 words.

Unique angle: Stories must differ from news already published in the English-language media. Stick to a specific angle and avoid cluttering the article with multiple themes. Go in-depth with coverage and analysis not found in mainstream media outlets.

Local context: Seek out local perspectives and sources not well represented in the media. However, your story must not be simply a collection of quotes; it must include your own contextualization and analysis.

Sources and facts: Analyses and reports must be based on facts and quotes from sources, and all referenced information must be cited and linked. Even analytical or opinion pieces should be fact-driven. Every quote or fact should be linked back to the original, primary source. If it is a UN report, link to the report on the UN website. If it is a quote by the US secretary of State, link to the official text at State.gov. Only reference articles and newspapers if they have exclusive reporting, such as interviews or leaked documents. Otherwise, link primary source. No Wikipedia links. Al-Monitor puts greater value on sources who are decision-makers and insiders who are in the region.

Clear writing: Avoid jargon, metaphors and clichés. If you have heard a phrase a hundred times, don’t use that phrase. Employ active voice – for example, “the government botched Operation X,” not “mistakes were made” – and clear, concise, direct sentences and paragraphs.

Self-edit: Thoroughly proof your work before submitting, removing grammatical errors and typos, and checking facts. Submit the article “ready to go” and do not expect editors to do your work. The best article is one that needs almost no editing. Unedited submissions will not be considered.

Appropriate language: Submissions to Al-Monitor must use appropriate language and cannot include name-calling, ad hominem attacks, or unsubstantiated allegations or rumors.

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